Chapter Text
“We're almost there,” Tanjiro panted, hauling his precious cargo up the side of the mountain. “Hang in there, Nezuko!” Sweat trickled down his face and glittered in the scorching afternoon sun.
A muffled hum came from the box. Nezuko loved when her brother talked to her, even though she couldn't say much in reply. She closed her eyes, letting the box gently rock her to sleep.
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“Hey, Nezuko, it’s safe to come out now.”
Tanjiro's soft voice roused Nezuko from slumber. She yawned around her muzzle and stretched her arms upward. Opening her eyes, Nezuko saw her brother bathed in dramatic golden light at the mouth of the cave. He beamed, sitting cross-legged next to a small pile of firewood.
Nezuko leapt from the box with astounding grace, her long pink kimono flowing behind her. It swished gently as she landed on the cold stone floor.
“Are you hungry?” Tanjiro gathered an armful of kindling and cast it into the center of a ring of stones.
“Mm-hm!” Nezuko nodded, beaming.
Tanjiro selected the dryest piece of wood and the sharpest stone, and struck them together until they sparked a tiny flame. The flickering light grew brighter as it climbed the logs and attempted to swallow them whole.
Nezuko sat next to her brother, basking in the warmth of the flame. The scent of smoke and burning wood sent her back to her childhood, when she and Tanjiro would attack their father with hugs every evening, breathing in the comforting smoky smell that lingered on his skin. Nezuko squinted away from the flame as it showered embers over the cave's rough floor. Strange shadows danced across Tanjiro's face, and she thought she saw a hint of nostalgia flicker in his own eyes as he hoisted a pot of water over the fire.
A tantalizing, savory aroma swirled through the air. Tanjiro was adding all kinds of things to the pot— yomogi, mushrooms, little bits of seaweed from the market, and lots of rice. Each ingredient fell from Tanjiro's gentle, calloused hands with a quiet splash.
Nezuko stared into the pot, humming eagerly. The broth would give her the strength to travel alongside Tanjiro that night rather than sleeping in her box. But her eyebrows furrowed in confusion as Tanjiro kept adding solid ingredients. Is he planning to eat all of these by himself? There was easily enough for two people to share. He had been working pretty hard that day, though.
Soon enough, the soup was ready. Tanjiro placed the steaming pot on the ground and retrieved two bowls from further back in the cave. He divided the soup evenly between them and handed one to Nezuko, who shot him a skeptical glance.
“What's wrong?” Tanjiro tilted his head to the side. “You don't want the soup?”
Nezuko pointed at the vegetables in her soup bowl, then pointed to her bamboo muzzle and frowned.
“Oh, you need help taking your muzzle off. Of course.”
Nezuko's heart raced, her eyes wide with panic as her brother's hands neared her mouth. She slapped them away with a defiant grunt and shook her head.
A perplexed frown grew over Tanjiro's face for a moment, then his eyes glittered with a deep, understanding sadness. “You're… afraid of losing control again, aren't you?”